Farm Bill update

[Hannah Lupien]

Hi Client Choice NYC!

 

If you’re new to this group, welcome! The notes from our last meeting are attached.

 

For everyone, I want to give a quick update on the Farm Bill (for more detailed info check out http://foodbillnyc.wikispaces.com/advocacy): The Senate passed a Farm Bill on Thursday, June 21st by a vote of 64-35. In the two days leading up to the vote, 73 amendments to the bill were voted on, including Senator Gillibrand’s amendment to restore cuts to SNAP (Food Stamps). Most notably, the Senate Farm Bill eliminates a provision called "Heat and Eat," which effectively cuts $4.5 billion from the SNAP program. The CBO estimates that this will result in a $90 decrease in SNAP benefits per month for some households, most likely those in large urban areas like New York City. The House is currently working on its version of the Farm Bill, which will almost certainly be less favorable to hungry New Yorkers than the Senate version.

 

The New York City Food and Farm Bill Working Group is fighting for a positive Farm Bill, and their Principles are now available in both English and Spanish (attached to this e-mail and available at http://foodbillnyc.wikispaces.com/Principles). If you have not yet signed on to their Principles I highly suggest you do (http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/714450/Sign-on-to-the-NYC-Food-and-Farm-Bill-Principles). While you’re at it, you can educate your clients and volunteers about the Farm Bill and ask them to sign on as well. If you would like a representative of the Working Group to come to your pantry to give a presentation about the Farm Bill please send me an e-mail.

 

Thank you,

Hannah

 

Hannah Lupien, Food Policy Strategist

West Side Campaign Against Hunger

263 West 86th Street I New York, NY 10024

Tel:  212-362-3662 (x 126) I Fax: 212-769-4341

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